Her full lips curled in as she licked them, and she glared at Wheeler with intolerant eyes while he held up the doorframe, still scorching me with a heated gaze.
“Then you’ll join us for dinner,” she insisted. “Lexi feels terrible about the party and talked about having you over for dinner. I make a delicious pot roast and I’d love to have you join us.” She briefly glanced at Wheeler. “I think it’s no secret what we are. We’re no different from you, April. We have our own issues and disputes, but we also have unity and value a family environment. A pack in itself is a family, but we mate for life and work out our differences. I’m sure if Jericho had laced cupcakes at a human party, it could have gotten out of hand very quickly, but the Packmasters kept us in line and broke up the party at the first sign of trouble. Please,” she said, reaching out to hold my wrist. “I insist we make it up to you. Will you give us a second chance? You’re a loyal friend to Lexi and she thinks highly of you.”
Wheeler turned around and muttered, “Didn’t take you for a pet lover, Ivy.”
Her serene face showed that he hadn’t ruffled her feathers. “Is seven o’clock okay? We’ll have white wine and talk on the porch after supper. It’ll be a relaxed atmosphere and a good time, so what you’re wearing is fine. Come with me. Let’s get your purse and you can think it over.”
***
Ivy had been blessed with the gift of convincing people to do things they didn’t want to do. At least she wasn’t asking me to go skydiving. I agreed to stop by later that evening and have dinner with the pack, and she extended the invitation to Trevor.
When I arrived at the mall to meet with Sanchez, I looked as if I’d just rolled out of bed in my long shorts and sweatshirt. All the teens were glammed up, parading around in their satiny lipstick and designer jeans, hoping to grab the attention of one of the hot boys hanging out by the music shop.
My purse strap bit into my shoulder and I nervously turned a bracelet on my wrist as I glided up the escalator. Once I reached the top, I walked past the pizzeria and hamburger vendors. We needed to complete the exchange in a more private area, so I’d instructed Sanchez to meet me by the barbecue station at the far end. This felt like something out of an espionage movie, except there was no James Bond and my hands were shaking like an epileptic’s.
My heart skipped like a stone when I saw Sanchez sitting at one of the plastic tables with an empty plate in front of him. I glanced at the clock wondering if I was late, but I was early this time.
“Take a seat, Vanilla,” he said in a curt tone.
I bit my tongue for all the things I wanted to say to him about Trevor. “Here’s the deal,” I began as my inner voice sank down in her chair and covered her face. “None of this is legal. I’m sure you have a little leeway from your boss to garner a tip, but Delgado might not be too thrilled with how much extra cash you’re making on the side.”
Sanchez rubbed the patch of hair on his chin with his middle finger, showing me his bottom teeth.
I cleared my throat and reached in my purse, pulling out a small box with a bow on it. “Happy birthday. Every penny. And not that you even care, but I had a good reason for not showing up. If you ever touch my friend again, or anyone else I care about, I’ll kill you.” My face hardened like stone, and his eyes sharpened like razors as he watched me deliver my threat.
I slid the box in front of him and he glimpsed inside.
“It’s all there,” I assured him. “I’d be foolish to short you, given everything that’s happened. I’m not threatening you, but I’m stating a fact about your boss. You know the guys running the show don’t like to find out they’re losing money. Don’t come by my house. Don’t call me. Don’t accidentally run into me at a music store. You’re getting more than enough, and you’ve already taken more than enough from me. I have nothing left to give you and this has put me in further debt. You’ll get nothing else—money or otherwise. I’m sure you saw an opportunity with me being young and na?ve, but I’m not playing that game anymore.”